25022025-LT-01.qxd 2/25/2025 12:46 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune STATE-LEVEL SURJIT PATAR ART FESTIVAL KICKS OFF CONCLAVE TRIUMPHS WITH BEST CAST ENSEMBLE INDIAN FILM FRATERNITY CONGRATULATES TEAM INDIA Event is being organised by PAU in collaboration with Punjab Kala Parishad to celebrate legacy of the poet. P2 The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards celebrated exceptional talent across both film and television. P4 Celebrities came together to congratulate Team India on their victory over Pak in Champions Trophy. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 23°C | MIN 12°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 11°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.18 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:52 AM TUESDAY | 25 FEBRUARY 2025 | LUDHIANA SSP recommends cancellation ~14.80-lakh loot case solved, two land in police dragnet of arms licence of two offenders Bizman’s driver hatched conspiracy, suspect, 2 others at large Tribune News Service Move was taken after 2 firing incidents were reported at wedding venues in a week Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 24 Despite clear orders from the Police Department that bringing firearms and resorting to celebratory firing in marriage events or any other celebrations is banned, the trend is back on track. The district witnessed two incidents in a week and in one of the incidents, an invitee to the wedding function suffered a serious bullet injury. It has raised questions over the poor implementation of orders of the district police regarding the blanket ban on bringing weapons to the marriage palaces or any other venues of celebrations and resorting to celebratory firing. After the incidents, newly joined Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ludhiana rural, Dr Ankur Gupta, showing seriousness of the matter ordered cancellation of licence of the firearms holders who fire shots in the functions. The SSP also called a meeting of marriage palace owners to warn them in this regard. Senior police officials, who led the meeting, categorically told the marriage palace owners that they should not allow Cops have told marriage palace owners to ensure prevention of such incidents or face action. THE RECENT INCIDENTS ■ Feb 15: A guest at a pre-wedding ceremony in Sidhwan Bet was injured when a bullet fired by an alleged intoxicated man hit him. The suspect, Jasman Chhina, an NRI from Tihara village, was booked for attempt to murder. ■ Feb 20: The Jagraon City police registered a case against a Sangrur-based man who resorted to a celebratory firing during a marriage function at a hotel in Jagraon. The suspect was identified as Gurinder Singh, a resident of Ramnagar Sibia, Sangrur district. Later, he was arrested by the police. firearms in the palaces, otherwise the police would take action against them. “We have already sent recommendations to cancel the arms licence of the offenders to the District Magistrate,” Gupta said. If any marriage palace owner sees anyone flaunting firearms during marriage celebrations, the person should inform the police and strict action would be taken against the arms licence holder. Heads of all police stations Faith on the move had also been told to stay vigilant and ensure that people did not bring weapons in the celebrations or resort to celebratory firing,” the SSP told The Tribune here on Monday. Interestingly, several times the police had issued orders to marriage palaces, asking them not to allow weapons inside banquets and even the owners were also strictly told to put instructions at such places stating weapons not allowed, yet most of the palaces and hotels are not paying heed to the directives. In 2018, the state government took strong measures to curb celebratory firing, particularly during weddings. To achieve the same, the government had decided to make it mandatory for individuals seeking new arms licences or renewals to submit an affidavit. The affidavit will serve as a commitment to abide by restrictions on carrying arms and to refrain from carrying the same during weddings and other functions. Additionally, banquet owners, as well as managers, will be required to install security equipment such as metal detectors and security cameras. Even the Home Department had also issued orders to all deputy commissioners, commissioners of police, and SSPs to implement the instructions. To further reinforce this message, warning boards were told to be installed outside marriage palaces, indicating that the arms are prohibited and offenders will be booked. Ironically, the implementation of the orders remained on papers or in official letters only, there is hardly any impact of these on the ground. Ludhiana, February 24 The Ludhiana police claimed to have solved a case in which a worker of a city businessman was robbed of Rs 14.80 lakh and arrested two suspects. The police also recovered Rs 8 lakh in cash and a motorcycle used in the crime. The suspects were identified as Vikramjit Singh Sagar and Vikram Singh Vicky, both residents of Preet Nagar locality. ADCP Prabhjot Singh Virk addressed a press conference in this regard on Monday. On February 19, 2024, Harpreet Singh, a worker of Balaji Steels, owned by Rajan, was targeted by five unidenti- Cops shows the cash recovered from the suspects in Ludhiana on Monday. Ludhiana, February 24 City-based RTI and social activist Kumar Gaurav on Monday raised concern regarding types of interlocking tiles being used at the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana. Gaurav raised concern about the incomplete and insufficient work of laying of interlocking tiles being done by the contractor concerned. Gaurav said steel mould 80 mm interlocking tiles had to be used but instead, 60 mm rubber mould tiles were being used. “The rubber mould tiles do not have enough strength over marriage by youth Tribune News Service The dug up area where interlocking tiles will be installed at the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA and are not long lasting and not approved also,” he said. He said the work of laying of interlocking tiles had been left incomplete near the lab, OPD, blood bank and Gynaecology Department. — TNS File compliance report before next hearing: NGT to state Ludhiana, February 24 In a matter pertaining to major cause of pollution in the Buddha Dariya, taken up by the Public Action Committee (PAC), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) vide orders dated February 20 has directed the state to file a compliance report before the next date of hearing, on March 20. Kapil Arora and Jaskirat Singh said SPVs of all three CETPs in the Focal Point, Tajpur Road and Bahadur K textile dyeing clusters had filed their respective appeals against the orders issued by the PPCB following the directions of the CPCB for restraining them to discharge treated effluents into the Buddha Dariya. The Tajpur and Focal Point CETPs had filed the appeal before the Tribunal for relief on the ground that the state government was to prepare one irrigation channel The ADCP said one of the drivers of the steel firm owner turned out to be the main conspirator as he was aware that Harpreet carries cash of the firm and they also knew the exact timing when he would return after collecting the money. Hence, the driver, with another four persons, planned to commit the loot. He said raids were being conducted to nab the remaining suspects, identified as Prince Verma of Baba Deep Singh Nagar, Mangat Singh of Jagraon and Karan Kapoor Bhatia of Dugri. Vikramjit has a criminal past as he had recently come out on bail in some case. Questions raised over quality Minor girl, father attempt of interlocking tiles at hospital suicide after harassment Artistes take part in a shobha yatra ahead of Mahashivratri in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Tribune News Service fied miscreants. During initial probe, the police suspected that Harpreet might have concocted the whole story and he was also questioned by them. He had claimed that his employer had sent him to collect payment from a person from Cheema Chowk. When he was returning after taking the same, he was stopped by some persons. They took the cash on the pretext that it was black money. Harpreet had also told the police that the suspects asked him to sit with them on their motorcycle and they continued to roam around the place. After an hour, they left him at Cheema Chowk and took away the money. POLLUTION IN BUDDHA DARIYA Effluents flowing into the Buddha Dariya in Ludhiana. FILE along the dariya for the purpose of use of treated effluents for irrigation purposes in around 35 villages of Ludhiana and Moga. “At the time of commencement of construction of CETPs, all three clusters had taken combined Environment Clearance (EC) from the MoE in which it was mentioned that there will be no discharge of treated water into the Buddha Dariya and on same grounds, we filed three petitions and two applications before the NGT,” they said. Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Gurpreet Singh Plaha said after announcement of sub- sidy on CETPs by the Central Government, the three clusters got separate ECs with the same condition. However after completion, the CETPs in active connivance with the PPCB, laid outlets directly into the dariya and started discharging the treated effluents into it. It was only after issuance of directions by the CPCB to the PPCB, the people of the state came to know that all three CETPs had no permission to discharge the treated effluents into the dariya and Bahadur K CETP was to run on zero liquid discharge (ZLD) condition. According to a letter issued by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Punjab, all three CETPs were to operate on the ZLD condition. Further, in 2019, i.e. before completion of construction of the CETPs, the Irrigation Department has already rejected the proposal of irri- c m y b gation using treated effluents due to non-feasibility on technical grounds. Dr Amandeep Singh Bains and Preet Dhanoa said the Bench was informed that the so-called treated effluents from the CETPs were still being discharged into the dariya by going against mandatory provisions of the EC as well as the NGT orders. The Bench questioned the PPCB and the state government if the orders have been implemented or not, to which the PPCB accepted that the effluents were still being discharged into the dariya. Taking cognisance of the same, the Bench ordered the PPCB to comply with the EC condition of no discharge of treated effluents into the dariya and file compliance report before the next date of hearing and AAG representing the state submitted that the compliance report would be filed before the next date of hearing. PAC members informed the media that the counsel for CETPs repeatedly argued that such an order would affect hundreds of industries but the court refused to entertain the arguments by saying that a large number of people were suffering due to such acts and the serious issue could not be ignored. Earlier, the state government as well as the PPCB were deliberately not implementing the orders of the NGT and were being allowed to operate by going against the mandatory EC condition as well as the NGT orders, but now, to comply with the orders, they will have to take action and stop the CETPs to discharge their treated effluents into the dariya. The next date of hearing is on March 20. Ludhiana, February 24 A minor girl and her father consumed some poisonous substance after she was pressured by a youth to marry her. They consumed phenyl at their residence on Kali Sadak on Sunday night. Both were undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital. According to information, both of them took the step due to the constant harassment by the youth. The girl’s father, Manoj, while talking to mediapersons said a youth used to harass his daughter and he would often follow her when- ever she goes to school. He was forcing her to marry him and was threatening to defame the family. The girl said the youth also threatened to kill her brother. The family had lodged a complaint at the Basti Jodhewal police station on Saturday. Despite this, the suspect continued to harass them and due to the continuous harassment, she and her father consumed poison. Officials of the Jodhewal Basti police station reached the Civil Hospital and recorded the statements of the father and daughter and started a probe into the matter. Admn approves 76 cases under Mission Vatsalya scheme Ludhiana, February 24 In a move aimed at ensuring the well-being of children in need of care and protection, the district administration approved 76 cases under the sponsorship programme of the Mission Vatsalya scheme during a meeting held here on Monday. The meeting, presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) Rohit Gupta, included a comprehensive briefing presented by District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Rashmi. She informed attendees that the Child Welfare Com- mittee (CWC) had meticulously reviewed all applications to ensure that eligible children receive the necessary support till they turn 18. She also told that the physical verification of the eligible cases had also been carried out extensively by her office. The ADC highlighted the administration’s dedication to create a safe environment for vulnerable children, helping them to grow and flourish. The meeting was also attended by members of the CWC, including its Chairman Gurjeet Singh Romana, and other stakeholders.— TNS